Question

With which musical instrument was the noted musician Pandit Kishan Maharaj associated?
1. Rudra Veena
2. Mridangam
3. Santoor
4. Tabla

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Tabla

The correct answer is Tabla.

• Pandit Kishan Maharaj (3 September 1923 – 4 May 2008) was an Indian tabla player who belonged to the Benares Gharana of Hindustani classical music.
  
• The person who can be regarded as the 'doyen' of the table in the modern era, is  Pt. Kishan Maharaj.
• He was a close friend of Pt. Ravi Shankar, who he accompanied many times.
• He also shared the stage with many stalwarts of his time including Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustaad Vilayat Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Girija Devi. Birju Maharaj to name a few.
• In most of his performances, he used to put the big red 'Tika', on the center of his forehead, a trademark style of the Benares Gharana.
• Kishanji was a very versatile musician, he could play all sorts of percussion instruments like pakhawaj, mridangam, dhol, etc.
• He was able to play the sitar and sarod also and could sing as well as dance